Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Making Spirits Bright


Today is the last day of the 25% off selected stamps sale, so I thought I'd whip up a quick card using Tin of Tags, which is one of the sale sets.

The large snowflake is included with the various greetings, which made the card so quick to put together. I love the emboss resist technique, don't you? It can really highlight the embossed image!


Although the stamp sets may not be on sale tomorrow, the coordinating Stitched Shapes Framelits will still be available. I just love 'em! You can see the stitched circle if you click on the image to zoom in.

Heads up: the SU retiring list comes out tomorrow, so I will be posting on a day that starts with 'T'. It will be a little later in the day, once I get the list.

Here's the "How To"
 Greeting: Shimmery White 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"
 Mat for greeting: Basic Black 3" x 3"
 Embossed background: Pool Party 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"
 Silver Glimmer strip 1/2" x 3-7/8"
 Mat: Basic Black 4" x 5-1/4"
 Card base: Shimmery White 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored and folded at 4-1/4"
  1. Die cut white square with 2-1/8" layering circle die. Die cut black square with second largest stitched circle die. Stamp greeting in Basic Black ink on white circle and adhere to black stitched circle.
  2. Rub embossing buddy all over Pool Party cardstock, then stamp large snowflake from Tin of Tags in VersaMark ink in a random pattern. Do the same with the small snowflake from Hang Your Stocking.
  3. Cover completely with embossing powder, tap off excess and heat with heat tool until melted. Using sponge, rub Bermuda Bay ink over the large flakes in a circular, buffing motion.
  4. Adhere silver glimmer strip about 1-3/8" from bottom of embossed cardstock. Adhere both to black mat and then to card base.
  5. Attach greeting with Stampin' Dimensionals.
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Monday, November 28, 2016

LAST CHANCE FOR A FREE GIFT!

https://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/categorypage.aspx?categoryid=10500&utm_source=olo&utm_medium=main-ad&utm_campaign=new-olo-homepage

Today is the final day of the Online Extravaganza, and the last chance to get a little thank you gift from me for ordering during the extravaganza. I know I should keep it a surprise, but maybe I can entice some of you fence-sitters if I show you what it is.

Are you ready? Lookie! The most adorable little easel Post-It note holder with a 2017 calendar and mini pen! Isn't this just the sweetest?!


These are just two examples. There are other equally cute ones! Each and every gift is one-of-a-kind, lovingly created with my own two hands, and will fit perfectly on your desk or beside the phone. It doesn't take up much space, either....the footprint is only 4-1/4" x 4-1/4".


So, what are you waiting for? Place an order with me by midnight Mountain time and I will express my undying gratitude by sending you one of these cuties, along with a thank you card. Remember, your order does not have to include items from the extravaganza; ANY order will do!

If you are interested in the bargains, the 24 Hour Flash sale items are shown below (click on any to go to the shop), or CLICK HERE to see all the items (there are many more!).

https://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/categorypage.aspx?categoryid=10500&utm_source=olo&utm_medium=main-ad&utm_campaign=new-olo-homepage

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=140868&dbwsdemoid=2054459

https://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/categorypage.aspx?categoryid=10500&utm_source=olo&utm_medium=main-ad&utm_campaign=new-olo-homepage

https://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/categorypage.aspx?categoryid=10500&utm_source=olo&utm_medium=main-ad&utm_campaign=new-olo-homepage



Sunday, November 27, 2016

Birthday Piggies


Okay, so it's hard for me to admit, but our son is turning the big FOUR OH next week. I mean, we can't possibly be old enough to have a kid that's middle aged, right?


Anyhoo, he raises pigs which get turned into the best bacon, sausage, ham, etc. that I've ever eaten. He is very much into raising them properly, and keeps meticulous spreadsheets and records of everything having to do with those hogs. (Seriously, they even have toys to play with - happy pigs make better meat.)


So I just HAD to use the pig out of the retired From the Herd stamp set. Not only because, well, PIGS, but because it's one of the funniest stamps I've ever seen. Seriously; that goat! And the llama!

I carefully used a marker to ink just the pig out of the whole herd because I wanted them to be looking in from different angles without any background distraction. Except for the one who is photo-bombing the bottom panel. I crack myself up sometimes!

The greeting is from the very first Paper Pumpkin kit, die cut with the retired Word Bubbles Framelits, and the embossing folder is from Darice, called Wire Fence. The balloon, party hat, and the head of the bottom pig are popped up on dimensionals, and the inside sentiment is from Number of Years, with Large Numbers Framelits die cuts.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Beautiful Day


Good morning! It IS a beautiful day today, but the reason for the post title is that's the name of the Altenew stamp set that was used for this thank you card. Don't red and black make the most stunning color combination?! I knew the recipient's favorite color is red, so that's why I chose it.

I did a bit of fussy cutting on the blossom, but have since ordered the coordinating dies, so I won't need to do that again! Even though the flower stamp wasn't made by Stampin' Up!, it was so beautiful that I just had to have it!



Still working my way through my retired DSP, eating that elephant one bite at a time, as they say. The black and white strip is from Everyday Chic, but you could just as easily substitute one of the black patterned papers from Pop of Pink Specialty DSP.

This is really a very simple, yet elegant card to make!

Here's the "How To"
 Image: Whisper White 2-3/4" x 8-1/2"
 DSP: 1-3/4" x 5-1/2"
 Card base: Whisper White 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored and folded at 4-1/4"
  1. Adhere DSP to card base slightly lower than centered.
  2. Stamp greeting (from Floral Phrases) below DSP, toward the right.
  3. Using Basic Black ink, stamp outline of blossom once and leaves twice on white 2-3/4" x 8-1/2" cardstock.
  4. For leaves, stamp the second leaf overlay stamp (not the solid one) in black over the leaf outlines.
  5. For blossom, stamp the second, third, and fourth overlays in Real Red over the blossom outline.
  6. Cut blossom and leaves out. Glue leaves to card base with liquid glue. Adhere blossom to card base with dimensionals.
  7. Adhere Rhinestone to center of blossom. Note: I colored the largest clear rhinestone with a red Sharpie.
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Friday, November 25, 2016

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! (And Sneak Peek)


Thank you all for the lovely comments on the 1,000th blog post! I especially liked the suggestions, and will work toward implementing some of them (like more instructional pictures).

The random number generator picked number 4, which just happens to be (drum roll, please) Jill's comment. Congratulations, Jill!!! Your "candy" will go out in the mail tomorrow. :)


While we are on the subject of chickens, isn't this Sale-A-Bration set just the cutest thing ever?! I loved having chickens many years ago, and hope to have a small flock next year. (We'll see how it goes with my "Honey Do" list, haha. "Honey, would you please build a chicken coop?")

Anyhoo, chickens are so entertaining to watch, and are good for keeping the bug population under control. Plus, there's nothing better than a freshly laid, home-grown egg. The ones in the store pale in comparison....really! I remember telling my daughter (pre-school age at the time) that the tomato hornworms we had pulled off the tomatoes and fed to the chickens would get turned into eggs. She didn't want to eat eggs for quite a while after that, lol.

Here's the "How To"
 Greeting: Scrap of Whisper White 1-1/4" x 2-1/4"
 Image: Shimmery White 2-1/2" x 5-1/4"
 Mat: Real Red 2-5/8" x 5-1/4"
 DSP background: Party Animal (coming in Occasions catalog) 4" x 5-1/4"
 Card base: Real Red 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored and folded at 4-1/4"
  1. Adhere DSP to card base.
  2. Stamp chickens in Basic Black and color with blender pen. (So Saffron, Cajun Craze, Real Red, Smoky Slate, and Soft Suede used here.)
  3. Adhere image to Real Red mat, and then to card base.
  4. Stamp greeting on scrap of Whisper White, die cut with smallest Stitched Shapes oval, and adhere to card with dimensionals.
Note: The Hey Chick stamp set will be available when Sale-A-Bration starts on January 4th, and the Party Animal DSP is coming in the 2017 Occasions catalog, also January 4th. Let me know if you need a copy of either or both of them!

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